Annular strand package with fabric cover



Dec. 18, 1956 J. E. WILLIAMS 2,774,471.!

ANNULAR STRAND PACKAGE WITH FABRIC COVER Filed March 6, 195% JAMES E. WILL/A M8 Ame Ey- 5 f /o /o I & 44 5 JNVENTOR.

United States Patent ANNULAR STRAND PACKAGE WITH FABRIC COVER James E. Williams, Springfield, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application March 6, 1953, Serial No. 340,847

6 Claims. (Cl. 206-59) The present invention relates to the production of fabrics comprising interlaced yarns and particularly to fabric articles formed by knitting machines, braiding machines, or looms of the circular type. The type of product with which the present invention is concerned is the stocking of sleeve type cover in which packages of a yarn are enclosed subsequently to the formation of such packages in centrifugal collectors, such as the spinning buckets in prevalent use within the rayon yarn industry.

in the manufacturing of viscose yarn considerable waste yarn is produced by the abrasion, tangling, and disarrangement of the windings along the outer and inner surfaces of the annular packages, e. g., the so-called yarn cakes formed by the bucket-spinning process. In spite of the requirement that the yarn cakes be enclosed within a fabric cover (i. e., a knitted tubular-type sleeve or stocking which extends through the central portion of the cake, and over its end surfaces with the end portions of the stocking extending in overlapping relationship along the outer periphery of the cake), the surface windings, especially those along the inner surface, are abraded or tangled. Such damage is usually incurred by the lack of care with which the rods or tubes on which the cakes are supported during subsequent treatments are inserted through the cakes. If not inserted carefully, the ends of the rods are scuffed or rubbed along the inner surfaces of the packages, and although the windings are covered by a layer of fabric, they are subjected to gouging and dislodgment from their positions as determined by the centrifugal disposition thereof during the building of the cakes.

Increasing the thickness of the fabric constituting the covering was found to be ineffective. It was discovered during the development of the present invention that the use of two covers applied to a cake, i. e., one cover superimposed on the other to provide a double layer of protective fabric was vastly more effective in preventing damage to the yarn of the package than a single layer having a thickness equal to or greater than the combined thickness of the superimposed layers. However, the use of two covers increases the difiiculties of handling, storing, and servicing the covers to such an extent as to substantially offset the savings to be derived from double cover protection.

Therefore, the principal object of the invention is to provide a unitary cover adapted for enclosing and protecting the surface of an annular yarn package during the handling'thereof and any treatments applied thereto with a portion of such cover, i. e., at least that portion which extends along the interior surface of the package, being especially adapted to prevent damage to the windings along the inner surface of the package to an extent substantially greater than the covers now known to the art of yarn manufacturing. It is also an object ancillary to the foregoing object to produce yarn cakes having substantially lower percentage of waste yarn comprising damaged surface windings. Another object is to produce a cover of which the cost of making and the cost of ice using conventional fabric covers.

Other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the invention and the drawings relating thereto in which Fig. l is a perspective view of a sleeve type cover having a portion thereof cut away to expose the fabric structure;

Fig. 2 is a section of the cover illustrated in Fig. 1 taken through the plural-layer middle section of the cover transversely to its longitudinal axis;

Fig. 3 is a diametral section of an annular yarn package with the cover of Figs. 1 and 2. disposed thereover;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary shortened view in perspective of a modified tubular cover for enclosing an annular article; and

Fig. 5 is a shortened fragmentary view in perspective of still another modified cover.

In brief, the objects of the invention are achieved by revision of, as a cover for annular articles, a fabric sleeve of interwoven or interlaced yarns having an endless seamless cross-section and comprising two spaced band-like end sections, and an intermediate band-like section joined with the end sections consisting of more than one layer of fabric joined at each end of the intermediate section with the adjacent end section. In a preferred embodiment, the end sections consist of one layer of fabric and are connected with the intermediate section by a common yarn system extending continuously through all of the sections and the layers thereof.

The structure of a cake cover 3 according to the present invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. It is to be noted from Fig. 1 that the cover comprises end sections 4 and 5 joined with the intermediate section 6 along the dotted lines 7 and 8. When the cover is supported in the manner depicted in Fig. 1, the several sections of the cover are disposed progressively along, and generally concentrically about, a longitudinal axis.

The end sections 4 and 5 comprise a single layer of fabric. The intermediate section 6, however, comprises, as shown two layers of fabric 10 and 11. From Fig. 2, it may be noted that the two fabric layers of the center section are not connected at any point along their circumference except at each end at which they are joined along the dotted lines 7 and 8 with the single layers of the end sections. Each layer of the center section is substantially entirely free to slide to some extent longitudinally as well as circumferentially over the adjacent layer. To promote such sliding the fabric layers of the intermediate section are preferably derived from yarns comprising continuous filaments and/or fibers or filaments having a relatively slick finish. It is possible also to knit the end sections 4 and 5, and one layer of the intermediate section from one type of yarn with another layer of the middle section being knitted from another type of yarn simultaneously with the first-named layer.

The sleeve-type cover of the present invention is preferably constructed without seams such as result by joining pieces of the fabric. The several sections of the cover are constructed from one continuous yarn system to avoid the necessity for making any seams. The term continuous yarn system means, for example, that in knitting the cover, the yarns being used to knit an end section will be fed continuously into the knitting machine without severance as the junction of the end section and the plural-layer intermediate section is reached, whereupon the machine continues operation without stopping to knit the same yarns into two or more layers of fabric. The knitting of the layers of the intermediate section progresses simultaneously until the junction of intermediate and the remaining unknitted end section is reached The term "continuous yarn system" also'applies to a cover wherein the layers of'the intermediate section are constructed, as mentioned above, of diiferent types of yarns, a partial substitution of the principal yarn of the system being effected automatically by, e. g., a circular knitting machine, to knit one of the layers of the middle section. The term "continuous yarn system further applies, within the concept of the present invention, to the complete substitution of one type of yarn for that used in knitting the single layer section, to knit the multiple layer intermediate section, and then the return of the initial yarn to the yarn system in knitting the last-knitted single l yer section; V

The terms interlaced and interwoven as applied to yarns which constitute the fabrics of the covers described herein includes any of the conventionalprocesses for interweaving yarns such as knitting, the interweaving of warp and filler yarns, and braiding. However, on account of their low cost and capacity for stretching, the knitted fabrics are presently preferred for the fabrication of cake covers of the invention and are referred to, by way of example, generally throughout the description of the invention.

Fig. 3' illustrates a cross section of an annular yarn package 15 which is entirely closed by a cover 3. As shown, the central or intermediate section 6 of the cover 3 is long enough to extend over both end surfaces of the package 15. The single layer end sections of the cover extend longitudinally with respect to the axis of a package into overlapping relationship along its outer peripheral surface.

In accordance with conventional yarn manufacturing practice, a plurality of such packages with covers fitted thereover are placed on a rod or a tube which extends through the central passageway 16 of the packages. A large plurality of such rods are supported in horizontal alignment during the drying or liquid-treating operation. When. covers constructed according to this invention enclose yarn packages, as shown in Fig. 3, the windings along the surface thereof are protected from gouging and scufiing by the ends of the supporting rods during the placement of the packages thereon or their removal therefrom by the relative movement of the outer layer and the adjacent inner layer of the intermediate section that occurs when the end of the'rod or tube engages the outer fabric layer 10 of the cover. This layer merely shifts or slides relative to the layer 11 without disturbing the windings of the package adjacent the layer 11. As the ends of the package are subjected to considerable rubbing or abrasion during handling, it is preferred that the section 6 of the cover be sufficiently long to extend around the end surfaces of the packages.

As shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of packages 15 may be subjected to a liquid treatment by placing a plurality of the packages, each enclosed by a cover 3, between holding members 17 and 18 and supplying a liquid to the enclosed region comprising passageways 16 of such packages through a tube 19 having lateral openings 19a. The liquid thus supplied, passes radially outwardly through the annular walls of the packages and their covers.

A preferred construction of a cover in accordance with this invention is one in which the intermediate multiplelayer section comprises yarns of continuous filament or other yarns of the type that will produce fabric-layers of relatively smooth finish. The end sections, however, comprise preferably staple fiber yarns such as cotton yarns, or yarns of short staple fiber manufactured from synthetic continuous filamentsv In constructing such covers, a preferable practice is to introduce the continuous filament yarns into the knitting machine while knitting the firstknitted singlev layer section of a cover before the juncture thereof with the multiple layer section is reached so that the smooth yarns are well established within the knitting machine mechanism before attempting to knit the junction of the sections and thereafter the separate layers of the multiple-layer section simultaneously. The knitting of the smoot yarns is continued also until after the layers of the intermediate section are joined into the layer of the last-knitted single-layer section so that a the knitting machine'may successfully negotiate the juncture of the layers with the yarn that is already established within the knitting mechanism. .After this juncture has been accomplished, the displaced staple fiber yarns may be substituted into the knitting mechanism for smooth yarns to continue the knitting of the last-knitted section.

It is possible also, and entirelywithin thepractice of' the present invention, to construct the layers of the intermediate section from different yarn materials, e. g., within the cover 3, the layer 11 of the section 6 is woven from the same staple fiber. yarns as used in weaving sections 4 and 5, whereas the layer 10 of section 6'is woven from continuousfilament type yarns enabling the layer to' slide readily over the layer 11 and reduce the likelihood of an object such as the tube end being inserted through the package from catching on the cover. However, in the situation where the layers of the intermediate section comprise different tyes of yarns, it is preferable, in using present knitting machines, to introduce into the knitting machine a type of yarn that is different from that constituting the end sections and a layer of the intermediate section, after knitting the junction between the first-knitted section and the intermediate section. The introduced yarn is then substituted by the knitting machine in place of a portion of the yarns handled by the machine in knitting the first-knitted end section. The machine operates to withdraw the substituted yarns and to reinstate the removed original yarns into the knitting mechanism just before the juncture of the intermediate section and the second-knitted end section is reached.

As' the structure of a knitting machine may be limited to knit only the outermost layer of the intermediate section with temporarily substituted yarns, it will be realized that the cover may be turned inside out to place the desired layer of such section in adjacent relationship with the inner surface of the package. a

Fig. 4 depicts in perspective and sectioned view a fragment of a cake cover 20 comprising two layers of fabric 21 and 22. The cover 26 may be constructed from a single piece of tubular fabric having a length approximately twice as long as the desired length of the cake cover with one half of the length of such 'a piece doubled back on the other half, and stitched or otherwise secured along the adjacent edges of the fabric at 23. To assist in maintaining the general shape of the cover, especially during such handling as the wrapping of a cake therein or the removal of the cover therefrom, the layers of fabric of the cover may be stitched together along spaced perimeters of the cover as shown at 24 and 25.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified cover 27 in shortened fragmentary perspective sectional view of which the intermediate double layer section comprises a tubular fabric 28 which extends continuously from one end of the cover to the other, and another shorter piece of tubular fabric 29 in generally concentric relationship with the fabric 28. The fabric 29 is stitched or otherwise secured to the fabric 23 along, e. g., spaced perimeters of the cover at 31 and 32. The yarn used to stitch the fabric layers of the covers 20 and 27 is preferably elastic so as to allow the fabric of each cover to stretch in a direction that is lateral with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cover. Substantial portions of the layers of fabric are thereby free of interconnection and such portions are thus free to slide over the adjacent portion of another fabric layer.

Covers as hereinbefore described have been found highly efiective in reducing the amount of waste yarn usually stripped from the centrifugally collected packages, e. g., the cakes of freshly-spun yarns obtained in manufacturing of viscose rayon. The provision of an intermediate multiple-layer section of the cake cover enables the outermost layer to slide relative to the other when the inner surface of the package is engaged in such a manner as to ordinarily damage the windings of packages enclosed in conventional covers. A further important advantage is realized during the washing of the yarn. It is found that a multipleglayer covering is highly effective in preventing matting of the windings along the inner surface of the cake. There is considerable tendency, in carrying out the Washing operation of cakes enclosed by covers comprising a single layer of fabrie, f or portions of adjacent windings to become tangled. The washing operation is normally carried out by suppor'tin'g a number of cakes a row in end-toend relationship on a single tube, maintainingclosures over the central openings of the outermost ends of the end'cakes in the row, and then introducing liquid into the hollow s'pace comprisin the central openings of the cakes. Apparently, a single layer of fabric has pores or interstices of sufficient size to permit the liquid to penetrate the inner cake Wall as small jets which tend to tangle the windings closest to the cover. A multiplelayer cover, on the other hand, although the pores of any one layer may be larger than that of a single layer cover, provides in effect, a haifle system which prevents the formation of small high-velocity streamsor jets of liquid entering the cakes; thus, wastage of yarn on account of matting is greatly reduced. Differences in cost of producing and using cake covers in accordance with the present invention as compared with conventional covers consisting of a single layer of fabric, are found to be negligible.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with an annular wound strand package, a tubularly-woven cover therefor comprising an intermediate section constituted of a plurality of layers of fabric that are generally concentrically superposed with respect to the axis of the package and extend over the entire inner surface of the package, and two sections joined to the intermediate section at the opposite ends thereof, each of the latter two sections comprising a single layer of fabric, said layers of the intermediate section being relatively movable and free of interconnection except for juncture with said latter-named sections, the cover extending from the inner surface of the package over both end surfaces thereof to dispose said latternamed sections in adjacent relationship along the outer peripheral surface of the package, said cover comprising a continuous yarn system extending progressively from one end of the cover to the other without seams throughout all of said sections and the layers thereof.

2. In combination with an annular wound strand package, a tubular knitted seamless cover therefor comprising an intermediate section constituted of a plurality of layers of fabric that are generally concentrically superposed with respect to the axis of the package and extend over the entire inner surface of the package, and two sections poined to the intermediate section at opposite ends thereof, each of the later two sections comprising a single layer of fabric, said layers of the intermediate section being relatively movable and free of interconnection except for juncture with said latter-named sections, the cover extending from the inner surface of the package over both end surfaces thereof to dispose said latternamed sections in adjacent relationship along the outer peripheral surface of the package, said cover comprising a continuous knitted yarn system extending throughout all of said sections and the layers thereof.

3. In combination with an annular wound package,

a tubularly woven cover thereof comprising an intermediate section constituted of two layers of fabric that are generally concentrically superposed with respect to the axis of the package, and two sections joined to the intermediate section at the opposite ends thereof, each of the latter two section comprising a single layer of fabric, said layers of the intermediate section being relatively movable and free of interconnectoin except for juncture with the single layers of each of said latternanied sections, the cover extending from the inner surface of the package over both end surfaces thereof to dispose the latter-named sections in adjacent relationship along the outer peripheral surface of the package, said cover comprising a yarn system extending continuously withoutseams throughout all of said sections and the layers thereof;

4, In combination with an annular wound strand package, a cover thereof comprising an intermediate section constituted of a plurality of layers of fabric that are generally concentrically superposed with respect to the axis of the package and extending over the entire inner surface of the package, and two sections joined to the intermediate section at the opposite ends thereof, each of the latter two sections comprising a single layer of fabric, said layers of the intermediate section comprising yarns of continuous filament whereas the layers of the latter-named sections comprise yarns of staple fiber, the layers of the intermediate section being relatively movable and free of interconnection except for juncture with said latter-named sections, the cover extending from the inner surface of the package over both end surfaces thereof to dispose said latter-named sections in adjacent relationship along the outer peripheral surface of the package, said cover comprising a continuously knitted yarn system extending continuously without seams throughout all of said sections and the layers thereof.

5. In combination with an annular wound strand package, a tubularly-woven cover therefor comprising an intermediate section constituted of a plurality of layers of fabric that are generally concentrically superposed with respect to the axis of the package and extend over the entire inner surface of the package, and two sections joined to the intermediate section at opposite ends thereof, each of the later two sections comprising a single layer of fabric, one of the layers of the intermediate section being constituted substantially of yarns of diiferent material than another layer of the intermediate section, at least one of the layers of the intermediate section comprising yarns having smooth surface characteristics rendering the layer readily slidable over the adjacent layer, the layers of the intermediate section being relatively movable and free of interconnection except for juncture with the latter-named sections, the cover extending from the inner surfaces of the package over both end surfaces thereof to dispose the latternamed sections in adjacent relationship along the outer perforated surface of the package, said cover comprising a continuous yarn system extending without seams through all of said sections and the layers thereof.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the latter-named sections and one layer of the intermediate section comprise yarns of similar fibrous material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 473,474 Pepper Apr. 26, 1892 1,688,702 Gladding Oct. 23, 1928 1,904,377 Lockhart Apr. 18, 1933 1,937,033 Smith Nov. 28, 1933 2,051,167 Goodman et a1. Aug. 18, 1936 2,053,985 Collins Sept. 8, 1936 2,230,067 Pedlow Jan. 28, 1941 2,382,400 Decker Aug. 14, 1945 2,442,091 Mann et a1. May 25, 1948 

